Stripline laser having HF voltage distribution optimized by grounding springs

Abstract

A stripline laser has its HF voltage distribution optimized by grounding springs. A grounded electrode is connected to an outside wall with electrically conductive connector elements, and is preferably connected thereto at a plurality of locations along its axial extent.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A high-frequency excited CO 2  stripline laser, comprising: an electrically conductive, vacuum-tight housing formed of an electrically conductive cylindrical outside wall and first and second face plates at opposite ends of a cylinder formed by the cylindrical outside wall;   a lasing gas comprising CO 2  within the vacuum-tight housing;   a grounding electrode extending longitudinally along the housing and mounted to the housing;   a high frequency metal electrode extending longitudinally along the housing and arranged directly above the grounding electrode and supported to the grounding electrode by spacers, a discharge gap being formed between the grounding electrode and the high frequency metal electrode;   both the grounding electrode and the HF metal electrode each having a cooling channel running longitudinally therealong;   a plurality of inductances connected to the high frequency electrode, said inductances being uniformly spaced at a plurality of locations longitudinally along the high frequency electrode;   an unstable resonator positioned at the discharge gap and connected to the high frequency electrode; and   the grounding electrode being connected to the outside wall with a plurality of electrically conductive connector elements at a plurality of locations along the longitudinal extent of said grounding electrode and wherein a first end of each of the conductive connector elements being connected to the grounding electrode and an opposite second end of each connector element being connected to an inside of the cylindrical outside wall of the housing, whereby an improved high frequency voltage distribution along the discharge gap is achieved when the laser is operated.   
     
     
       2. A stripline laser according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of said connector elements are provided, and wherein they are positioned at approximately a uniform spacing along the longitudinal extent of the grounding electrode. 
     
     
       3. A stripline laser according to claim 1 wherein the connector elements comprise multi-fingered metal springs and wherein the second end of each of said connector elements connects to the inside of the cylindrical outside wall at a mid level height of the housing, said grounding electrode being located below said mid-level height in the housing. 
     
     
       4. A stripline laser according to claim 1 wherein the connector elements are attached to said spacers which connect said grounding electrode to said high frequency electrode. 
     
     
       5. A high-frequency excited CO 2  stripline laser, comprising: an electrically conductive, vacuum-tight housing formed of an electrically conductive cylindrical outside wall and first and second face plates at opposite ends of a cylinder formed by the cylindrical outside wall;   a lasing gas within the vacuum-tight housing;   a grounding electrode extending longitudinally along the housing and mounted to the housing;   a high frequency metal electrode extending longitudinally along the housing and arranged directly above the grounding electrode and supported to the grounding electrode by spacers, a discharge gap being formed between the grounding electrode and the high frequency metal electrode;   both the grounding electrode and the HF metal electrode each having a cooling channel running longitudinally therealong;   an inductance connected to the high frequency electrode;   an unstable resonator positioned at the discharge gap and connected to the high frequency electrode; and   the grounding electrode being connected to the outside wall with at least one electrically conductive connector element at at least one location along the longitudinal extent of said grounding electrode and wherein a first end of the conductive connector element is connected to the grounding electrode and an opposite second end is connected to an inside of the cylindrical outside wall of the housing, whereby an improved high frequency voltage distribution along the discharge gap is achieved when the laser is operated.